A Whole Day Without Seeing Haohao
Jiang Nan had a fierce temper, but less than two minutes after getting angry, he was eager to play again and ran off to the slide. Zhuang Xingye saw that the two boys still intended to chat and found it boring, so he ran after Jiang Nan.
"What happened just now?"
Shen Xinde had worked up a sweat playing outside. His hair was stuck to his forehead, and his face was red from the sun, making him look pitiful.
"Nothing! A classmate cut in line and pushed Nannan." Shen Xinde was still grinning goofily, though he pouted a little at the mention of the annoying boy from earlier.
"But it's okay. He apologized to us," Shen Xinde added.
"Mm."
Gu Zhuoling didn't care about the details as long as Shen Xinde wasn't hurt. He brushed Xinde's damp hair aside. "Are you uncomfortable?"
Shen Xinde might feel unwell after spending too long in the sun.
Shen Xinde shook his head. "No."
"I'll take you to wash your face. You're all sweaty, and you'll be uncomfortable when you nap." Gu Zhuoling said nothing else. He lowered his eyes and pinched Shen Xinde's red cheek.
Shen Xinde was hauled into the bathroom, where Gu Zhuoling cupped some water in his hand and rubbed it over his face.
"Whoa! Dolly, gently." Shen Xinde whimpered as Gu Zhuoling rubbed his face.
"Does it hurt anywhere?" Gu Zhuoling stopped and looked at Shen Xinde's delicate little face.
"No, I just couldn't breathe." Shen Xinde let Gu Zhuoling wash his face again, then stood obediently. "Dolly, dry it."
"Lazy." Even so, Gu Zhuoling took a tissue from his pocket and dried Shen Xinde's face without complaint.
After washing his face, the two didn't go back outside. Instead, they sat on an indoor swing chair and chatted.
"Haohao's going on an outing the day after tomorrow!" Shen Xinde was delighted at the mention of the picnic.
"Mm." Gu Zhuoling had received the notice too, of course, but he wasn't going on the same day as Shen Xinde. "I can't go with Haohao."
That's even better! Then I'll have time to draw a picture for Dolly!
Shen Xinde's eyes darted about. Instead of telling the truth, he comforted Gu Zhuoling. "It's okay, Dolly. Haohao's only going for one afternoon."
As he spoke, he put his arms around Gu Zhuoling, as if to reassure him.
"When I go on my outing, will Haohao miss me?" Gu Zhuoling didn't seem particularly sad. He stared straight at Shen Xinde.
"Of course!" Shen Xinde smiled and kissed Gu Zhuoling. "Dolly has to miss Haohao too!"
"Of course I will."
Moon Teacher came out to call the children in for their naps, so Gu Zhuoling got up and led Shen Xinde toward the classroom.
"Can you go to sleep nicely this time?"
Gu Zhuoling saw that Shen Xinde wasn't throwing a tantrum and was just following obediently at his side, and he found it a little amusing.
"Haohao is brave." Shen Xinde nodded.
Gu Zhuoling looked at Shen Xinde's chubby face and his big, fluttering eyes and couldn't help finding him cute.
"I'll give you a kiss," Gu Zhuoling said in a low voice.
"Hm?" Shen Xinde looked up in mild confusion. A moment later, he understood and brightened at once, offering his cheek. "Is it a reward for Haohao?"
"A reward for Haohao." Gu Zhuoling kissed Shen Xinde's chubby cheek, then raised a hand to stroke it.
"Haohao will go to sleep nicely."
Shen Xinde patted his chest, making a promise.
"Mm. No talking to the other children at naptime," Gu Zhuoling reminded him as he brought him to the classroom door.
Shen Xinde returned to the classroom and obediently followed the teacher on duty to wash his little hands, then took off his shoes and climbed into bed.
The doll Gu Zhuoling had brought sat safely beside Shen Xinde's pillow. Shen Xinde lay down, reached for the doll, and pulled it into his arms.
"Xinde! I'm here!" Jiang Nan came charging in from outside. Seeing Shen Xinde lying comfortably in bed, he greeted him.
"Nannan! Hello!" Shen Xinde hugged the doll, in a wonderful mood, and greeted him back.
Jiang Nan was climbing onto his little bed with his bottom in the air. When he saw the doll in Shen Xinde's arms, he was terribly envious. "I'm bringing my teddy bear to sleep with me tomorrow too."
"Okay! Then I'll have my doll be friends with your teddy bear!" Shen Xinde said, pressing his face tightly against the doll.
"Okay, okay!"
When Shen Xinde got home, he told his parents about the picnic. Xia Wanqing and Shen Qiming were both very supportive and said they would buy him some snacks to take and share with the other children.
Shen Xinde cheerfully agreed, of course. That evening, as he lay on his bed talking to Gu Zhuoling on the phone, he mentioned buying snacks and asked if Gu Zhuoling wanted some.
Gu Zhuoling didn't like snacks and was just about to say no, but Shen Xinde settled the matter for him, telling him not to worry and that he would bring him some too.
After school the next afternoon, Shen Xinde naturally went shopping at the snack store with his parents.
On the day of the outing, Shen Xinde got into the car from Gu Zhuoling's home with his bag stuffed full of snacks.
"You packed that much?"
Gu Zhuoling lifted Shen Xinde's backpack and found it a little heavy. Seeing how much Shen Xinde loved to eat, he couldn't resist teasing him.
"Hehe, you'll get some tomorrow too." Feeling a little guilty, Shen Xinde wrapped his arms around Gu Zhuoling's arm.
Xia Wanqing had recently noticed that Shen Xinde had put on a little weight. After looking into it, she discovered he'd been sneaking too many snacks and had specifically asked Gu Zhuoling to keep an eye on him.
"Mommy said it was okay." Shen Xinde made sure to bring up his pardon.
Gu Zhuoling said nothing more, merely pinching Shen Xinde's cheek. "When you go out this afternoon, don't run around. Stay with the group and listen to the teachers."
Shen Xinde would be leaving after lunch and a short rest, so he and Gu Zhuoling had agreed not to meet at noon.
"I know," Shen Xinde drawled deliberately as his cheek was tugged.
"Are you going straight home today?"
Since the children could spend the whole afternoon playing in the little park, their parents could pick them up there.
"Mommy's coming to pick me up." Shen Xinde nodded.
"Then I won't get to see Haohao for the rest of today." A trace of disappointment crept into Gu Zhuoling's voice.
Because Shen Xinde liked drawing, Shen Qiming had found an art teacher who made home visits and arranged for Shen Xinde to try a lesson that evening. If it went well, he would study art at home from then on.
"Don't be sad." Shen Xinde was quite practiced at coaxing Gu Zhuoling. All he had to do was snuggle up against him and hum a couple of times, and Gu Zhuoling would smile.
As always, Gu Zhuoling took Shen Xinde all the way to his classroom door before parting from him.
Once inside, Shen Xinde began telling Jiang Nan what snacks he had brought. The children nearby heard him sharing and gathered around too.
Gu Zhuoling glanced in from the doorway. Shen Xinde was surrounded by a group of children. Without saying anything, Gu Zhuoling turned and went upstairs.
That afternoon, the children from the two junior classes lined up and followed their teachers onto the minibus.
While they were lining up to board, Jiang Nan spotted Chen Ming from the class next door.
Chen Ming was clearly still holding a grudge over his unpleasant encounter with Jiang Nan and Shen Xinde. He made a face at the two of them.
As soon as Jiang Nan saw it, he made one right back. "Mine looks better than yours!"
Who wants to compete with you over whose looks better?!
Furious, Chen Ming boarded the bus.